Automatic metal feeder for typecasting and slug-casting machines



June 19, 1934. c. F. BADGLEY 1,963,221

AUTOMATIC METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE CASTING AND SLUG CASTING MACHINES 7Filed Sept. 8, 1932' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 19, 1934. c. F BADGLEY1,963,221

AUTOMATIC METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE CASTING AND SLUG CASTING MACHINES FiledSept. 8. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Emma bow 62611 llgadyley,

Patented June 19, 1934 UH STATES AUTOMATIC METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE-CASTING AND SLUG-CASTING MA- CHINES Cecil Forest Badgley, Bozeman, Mont,assignor of one-third to Harry H. Howard and one-third to Chester (3.Trescott, both of Bozeman, Mont.

Application September 8, 1932, Serial No. 632,221

Claims.

5 a constant level in the pot.

til

Primarily the invention has for its object to accomplish this resultwith a mechanism that is composed of as few parts as possible, amechanism which is of a rugged construction, one that can be easily andcheaply manufactured and one which may be adapted, with but slightmodification of form, to any of the standard makes of type-castingmachines.

Further, it is an object to provide apparatus for the purpose stated inwhich the float that controls the actuation of the feeding escapement isprotected from injury and from the accumulation of dross and dirt fromthe molten metal.

Again, it is an object to provide means to protect the float and thefloat tube against injury by the metal pig when the same is carelesslyhandled in hanging it onto the feeder chain.

Further, it is an object to provide apparatus for the stated purpose inwhich the escapement mechanism and all parts possible are located on asubstantial frame to one side of and above the metal pot and out of theway of the operator when cleaning out the metal pot or when making anyrepairs to the machine.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide for mounting theframe of the feeder to the main frame of the type casting machine whereadditional weight is of no consequence and which in no way willinterfere with the normal operations of the machine. Only the weight ofthe very light float device is supported by the metal pot.

Another object is to provide a positive float arrangement that willpermit adjusting the molten metal height to a maximum variation of fromto A of an inch, thus providing for increased efliciency in theoperation of the type machine.

Further, it is an object to provide a controlling float which is notonly protected and enclosed but which is, in a measure, self-cleaning inthat the action of the metal pot in coming forward to the castingposition, changes the level of the molten metal within the pot inrelation to the float itself, thus giving a vertical motion to the floatwhich helps to keep it free from what little dross accumulates withinthe float protecting tube.

Further, it is an object to provide for taking up the entire strain ofoperation of the float set trip bar, or actuator trip bar as it ishereinafter called, on the escapement mechanism, by the frame whichcarries the actuator bar without putting any strain on the float or thefloat lever.

Further, it is an object to provide the'chain from which the metal pigis hung, with a compression spring for the purpose of effectivelycushioning the jar of the dropping pig when the escapement is releasedby the automatic devices of the feeder, thereby preventing the splash ofmolten metal in the pot.

Again, it is an object to provide a mechanism in which the actuator triprod thatis set by the float is carried by the metal pot while theactuated trip rod that operates the escapement mechanism is carried by aframe that is mounted on the pump bracket of the machine, the two triprods being so cooperatively constructed that when the float is at theproper height the actuator trip rod engages the actuated trip rod on theforward motion of the pot and returns with it through the pull of theescapement spring when the metal pot recedes, but when the pot hassuflicient metal the actuator trip rod will pass without effecting anactuation of the escapement mechanism.

Further, the invention has for its object to provide against breakage ordamage being done to the parts in the event of sticking or failure ofthe float mechanism properly to operate.

Another object is to provide, in cooperation with the pig loweringmechanism, a signal device to inform the operator when the metal pig hasbeen melted away and a new one is required, and to continue to give thesignal at each. cycle of operation of the type casting machine in theevent that the operator fails to hang a new pig on the feed chain.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, the invention stillfurther resides in the novel details of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in thefollowing detailed description, then be particularly pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich.-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my apparatus.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 2, showing the position of theparts with the alarm mechanism set to operate. 7

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, show- I ing the actuator triprod elevated to engage and operate the actuated trip rod.

, Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the float unit.

Figure '7 is a vertical section on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Figure 2. I

Figure 9 is a detail section hereinafter ref'erred to.

In the drawings in which like numerals of reference designate like partsin all of the figures, 1 represents the metal pot of the type castingmachine. To this pot is attached a float carrying bracket 2 havingupstanding lugs 3 to support a fulcrum pin 4 on which the float lever 5is pivoted.

6 represents the float which has a rod '7 whose upper end is providedwith a series of pin holes 8 for the reception of pins 83 that hold thefloat lever 5 andthe rod 7 connected with a loose or rocking joint, thelever 5 having a hole 9 through which the rod '7 projects. The lever 5has its other end forked as at 10 to fit the slots or side grooves 17 inthe lower or actuator trip rod 16.

On its under side the float lever 5 has a block 11 which carries afulcrum spring 12 that is secured to the block and the lever by screws13, the fulcrum spring 12 having a fulcrum loop 14 to fit over thefulcrum pin 4.

The bracket 2 includes a supporting bridge in bearings in which and inthe bracket the vertically movable actuator trip rod 16 is located, therod 16 being provided with a stop pin 13 so that it may not come out ofits bearing.

The upper end of the actuator trip rod is bevelled'as at 19 and isprovided with an actuating stepped portion 20 at the same end.

The float carrying bracket 2 is provided with a float tube 84 that isrigidly secured to the bracket 2, in which tube 84 the float rises andfalls. The tube 84 projects down into the molten metal in the pot 1.

In order to protect the float and float tube against injury by carelesshandling of the pig, I provide a float guard supporting rod 21 carriedby the bracket 2 and carryinga float tube guard plate 22 adjustablysecured on the rod 21 by a set screw 23 or other suitable means.

The main supporting frame 24 includes a foot 25 for securing it to thecam shaft bracket 26 of the type machine. It also includes another footportion 27 by means of which it is secured to the pump bracket 28 of thetype machine. In order that the mechanism may be clear of the pot theframe is provided with an offset portion 29.

The frame includes a top cross bar 30 and two vertical bars, betweenwhich Vertical bars is located a shaft 31 carrying spacer sleeves 32 and33 and the hub 41 of the escapement hook. Another shaft 34 is mountedbetween the uprights of the frame below the shaft 31 and it carries aspacer sleeve 35 and the hub 36 of the nine-toothed sprocket wheel 62 aswell as the hub 69 of the ten-toothed sprocket 68 and aspacer sleeve 37.

'38 and 39 are jam nuts which look the shafts 31 and 34 respectivelyinto the vertical standards. One end of each shaft fits into a hole inone of the uprights of the standards while the opposite ends of theshaft are threaded and screw into threaded holes 2400 in the otherupright of the standards, being held by the lock nuts 38 and 39 (seeFigure 9).

41 is the hub of the escapement hook while 42 and 43 designate the shortand long arms respectively of that hook. The hook is normally held withits short arm in engagement with a tooth of the ten-toothed escapementwheel or sprocket 68 by means of an escapement return spring 44. It isadapted to be rocked by a pulling action on the escapement hook pull arm45, against the tension of the spring 44.

46 is another shaft carried by the main frame and located below theshaft 34. On this shaft 46 is located a bell crank lever 47 having anarm 48 connected by a link 49 to the escapement hook pull arm 45. Italso has an arm 50 to which the pull chain 51 is connected. The otherend 57 of the chain 51 is connected to the trip rod carrying rocker arm56 that is fulcrumed on the stud 53. The stud 53 is carried by a frame52 that is secured to the pump bracket 28 of the type machine. A spring54 and an adjusting nut 55 are provided for holding the lever 56 on thestud.

The trip rod carrying rocker lever 56 has secured to its short end anarticulated trip rod 58 that is actuated by the trip rod 16 at times. 59is the one-way hinged end of the actuated trip rod 58. This end has itsextremity bevelled as at 60 and provided with a stepped portion 61 tocooperate with the stepped portion 20 of the actuator trip rod 16 aswill later be explained.

62 is the nine-toothed sprocket mounted on the shaft 34 and over whichthe bicycle chain 63, hereinbefore referred to, passes. One end of thechain is provided with a handhold 64 while the other end is providedwith a compression spring 65 that carries a hook 66 on which the pigs 67are hung. The sprocket 62 under the weight of the pig moves theescapement wheel 68 when it is released by the escapement hooktooth-=by-tooth. The hubs of the sprocket 62 and escapement wheel 63have a ratchet connection 70 so that the chain 63 may be pulled back bythe handhold without actuating the escapement mechanism.

71 is the escapement adjusting screw which is carried by the bracket 72that is in turn fasper actuating rocker arm 77. This arm '77 isfulcrumed at 78 to the bell crank lever arm 50 and has a loop 80 whichpasses over the bell shank and over the clapper bracket 75. The rockerarm 77 is held with its heel 79 out of the path of the heel '76 by meansof a throw-out spring 31.

The arm 77, however, is provided with a finger 82 that is adapted to beengaged by the handhold 64 when the pig has been used up and serves tomove the arm 77 over to a position where its heel '79 will come into thepath of the heel M5 76 and trip the clapper of the bell at eachreciprocation of the bell crank lever 47, i. e. once in each cycle ofthe type machine.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the 159 manner in which my invention operates isbest explained as follows:

Assume that a pig has been placed on the hook 66 and the chain pulled toraise the pig so that its lower end will just enter the pot above themolten metal. Now as the metal in the pot is consumed the float 6 willfall and in consequence thereof the actuator trip rod 16 will be raisedso that as the pot moves back the upper end of the lower actuated triprod will be elevated to a position above the lower end of the actuatedtrip rod 58. Therefore, as the metal pot comes forward again the triprods will engage with the result that the trip rod carrying rocker lever56 will be rocked to thereby exert a pull on the chain 51 to rock theescapement hook which permits the weight of the pig to rotate theescapement wheel and the sprocket wheel through an we equal to one-halfthe distance between adjacent teeth of the escapement wheel. As the potmoves back again the spring 44 will rock the escapement hook back to itsformer position, thereby permitting the pig to move the sprocket andescapement wheel a distance equal to onehalf the distance between twoescapement wheel teeth. As soon as the pig enters the molten metal itwill raise the level of the molten metal so as to elevate the float andlower the actuator trip rod. Further movements of the metal pot willhave no effect on the lowering of the pig unless the level of the moltenmetal falls beyond the normal level and again elevates the actuator triprod.

After the escapement mechanism has been operated. a sufficient number oftimes to feed the pig entirely to the pot, the handhold 64 will engagethe rocker arm finger 82 and move the rocker arm over so that its heel'79 will come into the path of the heel '76 of the clapper 86.Therefore, upon each pull on the chain 51 the clapper will be operatedto sound the alarm. So long as the handhold engages the finger 82 thealarm will be sounded once in each cycle of operation of the typefeeding machine, that is to say once in each reciprocation of the metalpot, for the float will be down and the actuator trip rod will be up sothat at each forward movement of the metal pot a pull is given to thechain 51.

Thus, if the operator is inattentive the first time the bell rings hisattention will be repeatedly called to the fact that the metal in thepot is getting low for the want of a new pig.

I have found that by using a nine-tooth chain sprocket 62 and aten-tooth escapement wheel 68, a better distribution of the weight ofthe chain and pig is obtained, and as the escapement hook has its armsof uneven length and arranged so that the ends thereof barely clear theteeth on the escapement wheel, the escapement wheel is prevented fromvibrating. The metal pig is lowered only the distance of one link of thechain for each movement of the escapement hook.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought the complete construction,operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilledin the art to which it relates.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated and described is to be takenas illustrative of a preferred form, and the invention is not to beconsidered as limited thereto since changes in the details of form andconstruction can be made without departing from the principle of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexiblepig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewithfor lowering the pig into the pot, means for sup- 1 porting saidsuspending means and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot,means actuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapementmechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracketmounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a floatconnected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar verticallymovable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end ofsaid lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuatedby said actuator trip bar.

2. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexiblepig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewithfor lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspendingmeans and-said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, meansactuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapementmechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracketmounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a floatconnected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar verticallymovable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end ofsaid lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuatedby said actuator trip bar, said trip bars being so cooperatively mountedthat the actuating force is applied in a direction transversely to theaxes of said trip bars.

3. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexiblepig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewithfor lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspendingmeans and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, meansactuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapementmechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracketmounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a floatconnected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar verticallymovable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end ofsaid lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuatedby said actuator trip bar, a float tube carried by said float carryingbracket as a protecting well for the float said float tube having acontinuous unbroken wall where submerged in the pot, the pot being opento the float only at its extreme lower end.

4-. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexiblepig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewithfor lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspendingmeans and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, meansactuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapementmechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracketmounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a floatconnected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar verticallymovable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end ofsaid lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuatedby said actuator trip bar, said trip bars being so cooperatively mountedthat the actuating force is applied in a direction transversely to theaxes of said trip bars, a float tube carried by said float carryingbracket as a protecting well for the float said float tube having acontinuous unbroken wall where submerged in the pot, the pot being opento the float only at its extreme lower end.

5. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexiblepig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewithfor lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspendingmeans and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, meansactuated by the movement of the pot for operating said escapementmechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracketmounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a floatconnected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar verticallymovable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end ofsaid lever, and said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuatedby said actuator trip bar, a float tube carried by said float. carryingbracket as a protecting well for the float, and means for protectingsaid float and its float tube against impact of the pig.

6. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexiblepig-suspending means and an escapement mechanism cooperating therewithfor lowering the pig into the pot, means for supporting said suspendingmeans and said escapement mechanism in position over the pot, meansactuated by the movement of the pot for operat ing said escapementmechanism, said last named means including a float carrying bracketmounted on the pot, a float lever fulcrumed on said bracket, a floatconnected to one end of said lever, an actuator trip bar verticallymovable in bearings on said bracket and engaged with the other end ofsaid lever, said escapement mechanism including a trip bar actuated bysaid actuator trip bar, a float tube carried by said float carryingbracket as a protecting well for the float, and a guard plate carried bysaid float tube bracket and interposed between the pig and the float andfloat tube.

'7. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, an uprightmain supporting frame having means by which it may be secured toimmovable parts of the machine, said frame including uprights, twoshafts carried by said frame near the top thereof, and an escapementwheel journalled on one of said shafts, an escapement hook osoillatablymounted on the other of said shafts in cooperative relation to saidescapement wheel, a sprocket Wheel journalled on the first of saidshafts, said sprocket and escapement wheel having a one-way ratchetengagement, a chain passed over said sprocket wheel, a hook on one endof said chain to hold a pig, a supplemental frame and means for mountingit at a place adjacent the path of movement of the pot, a rocker leveron said supplemental frame, a; trip rod carried by said rocker lever,means connecting said rocker lever with said escapement hook to operatethe same, and a float-set actuator trip rod carried by the pot tocooperate with said first mentioned trip rod.

8. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, an uprightmain supporting frame having means by which it may be secured toimmovable parts of the -machine, said'frame in- 'cluding uprights, twoshafts carried by said frame near the top thereof and an escapementwheel journalled on one of said shafts, an escapement hook osoillatablymounted on the other of said shafts in cooperative relation to saidescapement wheel, a sprocket wheel journalled on the first of saidshafts, said sprocket and escapement Wheel having a one-way ratchetengagement, a chain passed over said sprocket wheel, a spring secured toone end of said chain, a pig hook carried by said spring, a supplementalframe and means for mounting it at a place adjacent the path of movementof the pot, a rocker lever on said supplemental frame, a trip rodcarried by said rocker lever, means connecting said rocker lever withsaid escapement hook to operate said escapement hook in one direction,and a spring for operating said escapement hook in the oppositedirection, a trip rod carried by the pot to cooperate with said firstmentioned trip rod, and a float device for moving said trip rod.

9. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, an uprightmain supporting frame having means by which it may be secured toimmovable parts of the machine, said frame including uprights, twoshafts carried by said frame near the top thereof, and an escapementwheel journalled on one of said shafts, an escapement hook osoillatablymounted on the other of said shafts in cooperative relation to saidescapement wheel, a sprocket wheel journalled on the first of saidshafts, said sprocket and escapement wheel having a one-way ratchetengagement, a chain passed over said sprocket wheel, a hook on one endof said chain to hold a pig, a supplemental frame and means for mountingit at a place adjacent the path of movement of the pot, a rocker leveron said supplemental frame, a trip rod carried by said rocker lever,means connecting said rocker lever with said escapement hook to operatethe same,

and a float-set actuator trip rod carried by the pot to cooperate withsaid first mentioned trip rod, said first mentioned trip rod comprisingan articulated body having a one-way hinge connection between itsmembers.

10. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, an uprightmain supporting frame having means by which it may be secured toimmovable parts of the machine, said frame including uprights, twoshafts carried by said frame near the top thereof, and an escapementwheel'journalled on one of said shafts, an escapement hook osoillatablymounted on the other of said shafts in cooperative relation to saidescapement wheel, a sprocket wheel journalled'on the first of saidshafts, said sprocket and escapement wheel having a one-way ratchetengagement, a chain passed over said sprocket wheel, a hook on one endof said chain to hold a pig, a supplemental frame and means for mountingit at a place adjacent the path of movement of the pot, a rocker leveron said supplemental frame, a trip rod carried by said rocker lever,means connecting said rocker lever with said escapement hook to operatethe same, a float-set actuator trip rod carried by the pot to cooperatewith said first mentioned trip rod, a chain guard carried by said mainsupporting frame, an alarm carried by said chain guard, means actuatedby the escapement actuating mechanism for operating said alarm, meansrendering said alarm operating means ineffective while a pig is beingfed to the pot, and means for setting said alarm operating means to itseffective position upon the substantially complete consumption of thepig.

CECIL FOREST BADGLEY.

